And the ABS began recording wages growth for 12-month periods to each quarter in 1998.

Private sector wages growth of 2.2 per cent was marginally smaller than public-sector wages growth of 2.4 per cent.

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March quarter wages grew 0.5 per cent, seasonally adjusted, with private sector wages growing 0.4 per cent and public sector wages up by 0.5 per cent.

Quarterly wages growth on a trend basis also lagged, recording the slowest growth in six years. Wages grew 0.5 per cent in the March quarter, "the smallest quarterly increase since September quarter 2009", said the bureau.

On a state-by-state basis, wage growth in the year to March was biggest in Victoria (2.6 per cent) and the least in the ACT (1.8 per cent).

Victoria recorded the largest quarterly public sector pay rise (1 per cent) and the largest 12 monthly rise to March, with public sector pay rise (3.2 per cent).

Analysts said the wages growth was lower than anticipated.

"March quarter wages growth was weaker-than-expected, dropping to a record low," said UBS. "Indeed the slowdown was also broad-based across bonuses, sectors/industries and states.

"This argues strongly that household income is subdued and inflation pressures are low, consistent with the message of this week's April NAB business survey."

"Wage growth is barely keeping up with prices," said Commsec economist Savanth Sebastian. "In addition the private sector saw wages go backwards when bonuses are included. The weak wage outcomes are certainly not a positive for household budgets. Fortunately higher share and home prices are lifting wealth levels and will continue to support spending."

Mr Sebastian said lower wages growth would support jobs growth. "Anecdotally a similar thematic is playing out across the employment landscape. As one chief executive recently commentated, we now have access to skilled labour at a reasonable price as compared to ridiculous wages for poor quality labour."

ANZ economist Felicity Emmett noted that the weakness in New South Wales wages growth was "surprising".

"Private wages growth in NSW was very soft at 2.1 per cent in the year to March despite the outperformance of the Sydney economy," she said. "The rest of the state detail was fairly predictable."

Ms Emmett also noted that wages growth "was steady or lower across virtually all industries" and that "wages growth is set to remain low over the next couple of years, consistent with slow employment growth."